U.S. officials charged an Uzbek citizen in Idaho with providing bomb-making knowledge and other support to an Islamist militant group, knowing that it would be used in an attack, authorities said on Thursday.

Fazliddin Kurbanov, 30, a national of Uzbekistan living legally in Idaho, was arrested in Boise and faces a three-count grand jury indictment in Idaho and a single-count indictment in Utah, prosecutors said.

They said Kurbanov provided information and money to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which the United States has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The group supports establishing strict Islamic rule in Uzbekistan.

Authorities said Kurbanov's activities were closely monitored and any potential threat had been contained.

Boise/Nampa is a blue area of Idaho. State government and a university. Lots of lefty profs. The kind of area that accepts and tolerates terrorists. My police department in Chubbuck (eastern Idaho) actually caught some terrorists. They had the audacity to stop for dinner at the Applebee's in town.

Suspect Allegedly Conspired to Provide Support to Terrorist Organization; Demonstrated the Making and Use of Explosive Devices

U.S. Department of Justice
May 16, 2013

Office of Public Affairs

BOISE, IDFazliddin Kurbanov, 30, was arrested Thursday morning in Boise, Idaho as part of a federal terrorism investigation. Federal terrorism charges were filed Thursday afternoon in Boise and Salt Lake City, Utah. Kurbanov, an Uzbekistan national legally present in the United States, was living in Boise at the time of his arrest.

A federal grand jury in Boise returned a three-count indictment charging Kurbanov with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, and one count of possessing an unregistered destructive device.

A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging Kurbanov with one count of distribution of information relating to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction.

The charges were announced by David B. Barlow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah; Wendy J. Olson, U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho; John Carlin, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the U.S. Department of Justice; and Mary Rook, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Salt Lake City Division.

The arrest was the culmination of an investigation by the FBIs Salt Lake City Division, which covers Idaho and Utah; and Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) in Idaho and Utah, which include a number of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Kurbanovs activities were closely monitored by federal agents during the investigation and any potential threat posed by Kurbanov has been contained. Kurbanov is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court in Boise tomorrow. He will be transferred to Utah at the conclusion of the prosecution in Idaho.

Todays arrest and these indictments underscore our commitment to aggressively and thoroughly investigate those who conspire to engage in unlawful terrorist activities, said U.S. Attorney Olson. The thorough and exhaustive work of our JTTF, in partnership with our investigating and prosecuting partners in Utah, Colorado, and at the National Security Division, put a stop to this criminal activity and ensured the publics safety. I commend the men and women at every level of law enforcement, including the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, Ada County and Canyon County Sheriffs Offices, and the Boise City Police Department, who assisted in this effort.

One of our highest priorities is disrupting potential acts of terrorism. The coordinated investigation, arrest, and indictments in this case demonstrate the commitment of all involved to do just that. The tireless work of agents, analysts, and law enforcement officers to detect and guard against acts of terrorism has helped ensure the safety of the communities they serve, U.S. Attorney Barlow said today. The judicial part of the process will now begin in Idaho and Utah.

Todays arrest underscores the need for continued vigilance against terrorist threats both at home and abroad. I thank the many agents, analysts and prosecutors responsible for this important investigation, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Carlin.

As always, the FBIs top priority is the safety and security of our nation and its citizens. The indictments and arrest are the result of months of exhaustive investigation on the part of agents, analysts, and officers who worked indefatigably to achieve that end, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Rook.

Idaho Charges

The Idaho indictment alleges in count one that between August 2012 and May 2013, Kurbanov knowingly conspired with unnamed co-conspirators to provide material support and resources to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The indictment alleges that the material support and resources included himself, computer software and money.

In count two, the indictment further alleges that the defendant conspired to provide material support and resources, including himself, to terrorists knowing that the material support was to be used in preparation for and in carrying out an offense involving the use of a weapon of mass destruction.

The indictment also alleges in count three that on or about November 15, 2012, Kurbanov possessed a destructive device consisting of a combination of parts intended for use in converting any device into a destructive device and from which a destructive device could be readily assembled. According to the indictment, the parts were a hollow hand grenade, hobby fuse, aluminum powder, potassium nitrate, and sulfur.

If convicted on the Idaho charges, Kurbanov faces a maximum of 15 years in prison on each of the conspiracy counts and 10 years in prison on the possession of an unregistered destructive device count. The Idaho charges are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Lucoff and Heather Patricco and National Security Division Trial Attorney Larry Schneider.

Utah Charges

The one-count indictment filed in Utah alleges that from about January 14, 2013 continuing through January 24, 2013, Kurbanov taught and demonstrated how to make explosive devices and distributed information relating to the manufacture and use of an explosive or weapon of mass destruction with the intent that the teaching, demonstration, and information be used for and in furtherance of an activity that would constitute a federal crime of violence.

The indictment alleges the defendant showed Internet videos, conducted instructional shopping trips, provided written recipes, and gave verbal instructions on where to obtain the necessary components to construct and use improvised explosive devices. The indictment also alleges that Kurbanov intended that the videos, written recipes, verbal instructions, and shopping trips be used for training in the construction and use of explosive devices to commit a crime of violence, such as the use of weapons of mass destruction; bombings of a place of public use, a public transportation system, or infrastructure facility; or destroying a building in interstate commerce.

If convicted on the Utah charge, Kurbanov faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

The Utah charges are being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Barlow, Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Huber, and National Security Division Trial Attorney Larry Schneider.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt and is not evidence. Individuals charged in an indictment are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

SNIPPET: “The Idaho indictment alleges that between August 2012 and May 2013, Kurbanov conspired with others, “both known and unknown,” to provide funds and computer software to the IMU. These items were “to be used in preparation for and in carrying out an offense involving the use of a weapon of mass destruction.”

Additionally, he “possessed a destructive device consisting of a combination of parts intended for use in converting any device into a destructive device could be readily assembled.” Those parts included “a hollow hand grenade, hobby fuse, aluminum powder, potassium nitrate and sulfur.”

Suspect Allegedly Conspired to Provide Support to Terrorist Organization;

Demonstrated the Making and Use of Explosive Devices”

SNIPPET: “***This release was sent at 3:49 p.m. by the US Attorney’s Office in Boise and the FBI Salt Lake City Division. Boise Police have been acting as an assist to federal agencies in this investigation.”

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